Indonesia Uncovers Its Largest Drug Laboratory

Indonesia’s largest clandestine drug laboratory has been uncovered in Pidie, Aceh, by a joint team from the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

Initial investigations indicate that the laboratory was strongly suspected of being linked to an international cross-border drug network involving syndicates from China, Malaysia and Indonesia. Two shophouses had been converted into a methamphetamine factory.

How the laboratory was uncovered

National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto outlined the investigation into the laboratory, which was capable of producing 1.2 tonnes of drugs. The network had been monitored for months and was first detected in February 2026.

“In February 2026, a narcotics network originating in China was detected. It was transporting hundreds of kilograms of liquid methamphetamine from northern Myanmar through Laos and Thailand before reaching its final destination, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on 18 May 2026,” General Suyudi said at a press conference in Pidie, Aceh, on Friday (23 October 2026).

Investigators identified two alleged drug chemists as Chinese nationals LJ, 45, and XM, 42. They reportedly transited through Malaysia and entered Banda Aceh on 24 May 2026, stayed at a hotel for 10 days, then returned to Malaysia.

A second shipment of methamphetamine was sent in July 2026, following the same route as the first.

“At the end of July 2026, the two foreign nationals began the second shipment, comprising almost one tonne of liquid methamphetamine, along the same route as the first. The liquid was disguised in green cans bearing the Itanpro brand to evade officers,” he added.

Logistical preparations

The two men later travelled from China to Malaysia. On arrival, their accommodation arrangements were assisted by an Indonesian national identified as MN.

“On 15 October 2026, suspects LJ and XM travelled from Kunming, China, and arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 14.40 local time. They met suspect B, an Indonesian national. While in Malaysia, LJ and XM were assisted by suspect MN with accommodation and lodging,” he said.

The investigation began on 16 October, when suspect B flew from Kuala Lumpur to Banda Aceh before travelling to Samalanga, Bireuen regency, Aceh.

“On Saturday, 17 October 2026, LJ, XM and MN landed in Banda Aceh and were picked up by suspect RI in a black Toyota Innova Reborn. The Innova stopped at a restaurant on the way, then arrived at a shophouse in Jenep at 22.26 WIB. At 03.00 WIB, a Fortuner arrived at the same location,” he said.

He added that on 18 October a Fortuner travelled from Medan. Suspect LJ contacted his superior in China, identified as LX, to say that methamphetamine production had begun.

“On 19 October at 12.51, the Fortuner group moved suitcases and boxes into a white Honda Jazz, which was receiving the logistics,” he said.

Arrests

The joint team sealed off the site before making arrests. The operation was coordinated on 21 October 2026, and officers carried it out the following day.

“At 12.19 WIB, the joint team received information that suspects LJ and XM were in a shophouse on Jalan Dayah Tanoh, Mutiara Timur district, Pidie regency. At 14.40 WIB, the team raided the shophouse, as well as four other locations in Bireuen, North Aceh and Lhokseumawe,” he said.

Suspects LJ and F, along with MY, AK and AY, were arrested inside the shophouse that had been converted into a drug laboratory. Officers seized a range of evidence, including 20 drums of liquid methamphetamine and 500kg of crystal methamphetamine. The total quantity of drugs seized reached 1.2 tonnes.

Coordination with China

General Suyudi said the alleged principal controller of the drugs was being sought. Authorities will coordinate with China to locate the suspected ringleader.

“The team is still pursuing wanted individuals, including field coordinators identified as Z, ES, J, BR and SS, and is coordinating with NC City in China to arrest the main controller, LS,” he said.

Suyudi said investigators would also examine six mobile phones seized in the raid and apply money-laundering charges in the case.

“We will conduct digital forensics on the six mobile phones found at the scene and apply money-laundering provisions to impoverish this network,” he said.

‘Six million children saved’

General Suyudi said the joint operation had prevented the drugs from reaching the market. He estimated that it had protected six million Indonesians from the effects of drug distribution.

“It is important to understand the enormous harm we have prevented through this operation. If 1.2 tonnes, or 1,200,000 grams, of methamphetamine were sold at an average market price of Rp1.8 million per gram, the total economic value we have prevented from circulating would be almost Rp2.16 trillion,” he said.

Suyudi said that, assuming each gram of methamphetamine could be consumed by five people, dismantling the clandestine laboratory had saved millions of young people.

“If we assume that one gram of methamphetamine is consumed by five people, then we have saved six million Indonesians from the effects of narcotics,” he said.

He said large-scale drug production could also increase demand for rehabilitation. In his estimate, uncovering the laboratory could reduce state expenditure by Rp120 trillion, assuming rehabilitation costs of Rp20 million per person.

“If this number is calculated against the cost of rehabilitation, the state would have to spend Rp120 trillion, based on Rp20 million per person for a six-month rehabilitation period,” he said.

Praise for joint operation

He praised the cooperation between the National Police, BNN and Customs and Excise, and said the threat posed by narcotics was real.

“These extraordinary figures show that the threat from narcotics is very real. Collaboration across all sections of society is our strongest line of defence,” he said.